‘Rahane’s style of reading game is unique’
NEW DELHI: The next two months will see Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli fight it out as both teams look to win the 12th Indian Premier League (IPL).
While Kohli has led RCB for a while, this will be Rahane’s second season as captain and head coach Paddy Upton is excited to have the calm and cool ‘Jinx’ (as Rahane is called) at the helm.
Upton made it clear that while comparisons were a part of any sport, Rahane and Kohli were unique in their ways and the way Jinx reads situations and his teammates, is what makes him succeed.
“You get players who are naturally big-pictured and strategically minded individuals and they make good on-field captains and then you get some who are very good leaders and inspire other players. Each captain brings a different quality with his leadership which then needs to be balanced by other senior players.
“Rahane has his unique way of reading and understanding the game and dealing with people. His personality is different from that of Virat so they have their unique strengths,” he said.
Rahane was elevated to the captain’s role last season after Steve Smith was suspended after the sandpaper scandal.
Asked if there would be added pressure on the captain since the team did well under him in 2018, Upton felt otherwise.
“It will actually be less pressure as the first time you have to adjust a lot more and now there is more comfort so he will be more at home.”
Coming back to Smith, the former Australia skipper is already with the team and Upton is excited to have him not just as a solid bat in the middle order, but also as someone who will help the youngsters in the unit.
“Smith is a good player. He knows how to pace an innings or set the chase. He will be hungry and looking to get back into the groove as early as possible. He will be the perfect support for Rahane in helping with decisionmaking. Exciting to have him in the middle order,” he said.
Two other players who will be looking to play an integral role in this edition if Royals are to go on and lift the trophy are Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. Upton said he is banking on them to make it count.
“Every player in the XI is important and then you have some who are match-winners. Stokes is one of them. We want to create a culture which will give him the best possible chance to fire as often as possible. This will be my first season with him.
“Jos has been very successful not just for England or in the IPL. He has done well for almost all teams he has played for. He is a class player and is going to have a minimum of 35 quality bowlers bowling at him and I don’t think they can keep him quiet,” he said.
While Royals have done well, the trophy has eluded them post their maiden triumph in 2008, and Upton believes the team will work towards improving in all areas.